The Twins gave Vance Worley 10 starts to find his groove. On Wednesday, they finally ran out of patience.

The Twins optioned their Opening Day starter to Triple-A Rochester after he was shelled for eight runs on 10 hits in an 8-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Three of the hits were homers, including a grand slam by rookie sensation Evan Gattis.

It was the Twins' eighth straight loss as they were swept to start a three-city road trip that continues Thursday at American League Central-leading Detroit.

"We're looking for performance here," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We got him in a trade. We need performance. You've seen what's happened here (consecutively) with our starters. We needed him to step up, and it didn't work out."

Worley, 25, fell to 1-5 with a 7.21 earned-run average after lasting just 3 2/3 innings at Turner Field. He was coming off a six-inning outing against the Boston Red Sox in which he held them without an earned run, but that was one of just three quality starts he has made since joining the Twins.

Acquired with Double-A right-hander Trevor May in an offseason trade that sent popular outfielder Ben Revere to the Philadelphia Phillies, Worley has allowed eight of his nine home runs over his past five starts.

Braves shortstop Ramiro Pena cracked a one-out homer in the third inning, and B.J. Upton, who came in batting .153, opened the fourth with a shot to left-center.